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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1532558
This article is part of the Research Topic Genetic and Pharmacological Frontiers in Cancer Treatment View all articles

Uncovering the role of microRNAs in esophageal cancer: from pathogenesis to clinical applications

Provisionally accepted
Zhenglin He Zhenglin He Yishuo Ji Yishuo Ji Yutong Yuan Yutong Yuan Tianfang Liang Tianfang Liang Chenglin Liu Chenglin Liu Yiping Jiao Yiping Jiao Yimeng Chen Yimeng Chen Yiming Yang Yiming Yang Liang Han Liang Han Yue Hu Yue Hu *Xianling Cong Xianling Cong
  • Jilin University, Changchun, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Esophageal cancer (EC) presents substantial therapeutic challenges due to its high mortality rate and the tendency for diagnosis at advanced stages. Acknowledging the constraints of the existing current treatment paradigm, there is a pressing need for the development of innovative, targeted therapeutic strategies to surpass the current stagnation in survival rate improvements. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted significant attention for their capacity to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, thereby influencing various cellular processes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of miRNAs in EC, emphasizing their mechanisms in tumorigenesis, their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and their influence on resistance to therapy. We elucidate how miRNAs modulate oncogenic pathways and tumor suppressor genes, influencing EC cell behavior and treatment outcomes. By integrating insights from genetic sequencing and molecular biology, we identify key miRNAs that promote or inhibit EC progression and treatment resistance. This review highlights critical need for an enhanced understanding of miRNAs in EC, advocating for their integration into therapeutic strategies.

    Keywords: MicroRNAs, esophageal cancer, Pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment resistance

    Received: 22 Nov 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 He, Ji, Yuan, Liang, Liu, Jiao, Chen, Yang, Han, Hu and Cong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yue Hu, Jilin University, Changchun, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.